There were a gazillion community theatres all around Pittsburgh in many of the Boroughs. You already mentioned The Sewickley, but, Baden, Ambridge, Alliquipa, Coraopolis, McKees Rocks, Mt. Oliver, Bellvue, Avalon, New Kensington, Penn Hills, Shadyside, E. Liberty, Bloomfield and Crafton all had there own, (I believe independents, as I know Coraopolis’s was,)and of course, the outter lying areas, including Paoli, Chicora, Butler, Brady’s Bend, East Brady and Oil City can be included. All of western PA was covered with these smallish “shows” as we used to call them. If memory serves, most had from 400 to 600 seats and they were fairly older houses. It could well be they were converted store fronts as Pittsburgh played a big part in the development of the film exhibition business.
I, too, miss any Warner theatre that is no longer with us. And speaking of the name WARNER. If anyone is close to New Castle and Slippery Rock PA, you can get an opportunity to meet Cass Warner who is the granddaughter of Harry M. Warner. She is at a silent film festival and will be signing her book, Hollywood Be Thy Name from 5-6 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle. Her book can be purchased through Amazon. The website for the festival is http://academics.sru.edu/warner/index.htm
The Fiesta theatre was directly across from Heinz Hall (former Loews Penn). It was in the lower level of the parking garage with first floor retail on Sixth Street. This structure sits on the site of the old Rosenbaums department store. The entrance to the theatre was on Sixth Street. You entered a small foyer and there were escalators that took you down to the lower level where the theatre entrance was located. You could also enter this lower level entrance lobby directly from the parking garage.
I saw many films there but the first one that comes to mind is seeing “Murder on the Orient Express”. Not sure when the theatre closed, but it was probably in the 80’s.
The Forum theatre in Squirrel Hill was on the north side of Forbes Avenue between Murray avenue and Shady Avenue. I’m not exactly sure of the address. There is a terra cotta facade on one buiding that looks suspicously like a theatre facade, but I’ve also been told that it was torn down and replaced by several one story shops closer to Shady Avenue.
I remember seeing Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation ” there. If you’ve never seem the movie, it’s about wiretapping and the beginning of the movie has distored sound like a poor quality wiretap.
Well, several patrons, not realizing this was a sound effect from the movie, jumped up and ran into the lobby to complain about the poor sound!
I believe the Airport theatre was actually in the old PIttsburgh airport. I was never there but I’ve been told that it ran full length films for people who were waiting for their connecting flights. This is back when Pittsburgh was a major hub for the former Allegheny Airlines (now known as USAIR). Of course, back then everybody referred to them as Agony Airlines.
As you know there are 25 theatres listed for Pittsburgh. One of them is the Warner which according to CT is closed. I wish you luck as many CT members will certainly be able to help you.
There were a gazillion community theatres all around Pittsburgh in many of the Boroughs. You already mentioned The Sewickley, but, Baden, Ambridge, Alliquipa, Coraopolis, McKees Rocks, Mt. Oliver, Bellvue, Avalon, New Kensington, Penn Hills, Shadyside, E. Liberty, Bloomfield and Crafton all had there own, (I believe independents, as I know Coraopolis’s was,)and of course, the outter lying areas, including Paoli, Chicora, Butler, Brady’s Bend, East Brady and Oil City can be included. All of western PA was covered with these smallish “shows” as we used to call them. If memory serves, most had from 400 to 600 seats and they were fairly older houses. It could well be they were converted store fronts as Pittsburgh played a big part in the development of the film exhibition business.
I, too, miss any Warner theatre that is no longer with us. And speaking of the name WARNER. If anyone is close to New Castle and Slippery Rock PA, you can get an opportunity to meet Cass Warner who is the granddaughter of Harry M. Warner. She is at a silent film festival and will be signing her book, Hollywood Be Thy Name from 5-6 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle. Her book can be purchased through Amazon. The website for the festival is http://academics.sru.edu/warner/index.htm
You covered it pretty well, I useed to work allot of them I miss the Warner most of all.
Norelco
The Fiesta theatre was directly across from Heinz Hall (former Loews Penn). It was in the lower level of the parking garage with first floor retail on Sixth Street. This structure sits on the site of the old Rosenbaums department store. The entrance to the theatre was on Sixth Street. You entered a small foyer and there were escalators that took you down to the lower level where the theatre entrance was located. You could also enter this lower level entrance lobby directly from the parking garage.
I saw many films there but the first one that comes to mind is seeing “Murder on the Orient Express”. Not sure when the theatre closed, but it was probably in the 80’s.
The Forum theatre in Squirrel Hill was on the north side of Forbes Avenue between Murray avenue and Shady Avenue. I’m not exactly sure of the address. There is a terra cotta facade on one buiding that looks suspicously like a theatre facade, but I’ve also been told that it was torn down and replaced by several one story shops closer to Shady Avenue.
I remember seeing Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation ” there. If you’ve never seem the movie, it’s about wiretapping and the beginning of the movie has distored sound like a poor quality wiretap.
Well, several patrons, not realizing this was a sound effect from the movie, jumped up and ran into the lobby to complain about the poor sound!
I believe the Airport theatre was actually in the old PIttsburgh airport. I was never there but I’ve been told that it ran full length films for people who were waiting for their connecting flights. This is back when Pittsburgh was a major hub for the former Allegheny Airlines (now known as USAIR). Of course, back then everybody referred to them as Agony Airlines.
As you know there are 25 theatres listed for Pittsburgh. One of them is the Warner which according to CT is closed. I wish you luck as many CT members will certainly be able to help you.